China Briefing | As Xi Jinping warns Joe Biden on Taiwan, history of ‘yao guan’ shows US cannot laugh off China’s intentions

In today’s world riven with great geopolitical uncertainties, people seldom agree on anything. One of the few things literally everyone can agree on is that ties between China and the United States, perhaps the world’s most consequential bilateral relationship, are at their lowest point since the countries re-established diplomatic ties in the 1970s.

As Beijing and Washington openly spar over a wide range of issues from trade to technology to human rights, people wonder if the relationship can get any worse. Well, it can.

Despite China’s repeated warnings, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears to be pushing ahead with a controversial visit to Taiwan. She has not confirmed the trip reportedly scheduled for early August but media reports on Thursday indicated that her office began inviting other lawmakers to travel with her to the island.

In a phone call with US President Joe Biden on Thursday night, President Xi Jinping warned against playing with fire over Taiwan, without directly mentioning Pelosi’s possible trip.